Greece surprised by Hungary in the Koeman debut

Greece allowed three goals in 16 minutes and Hungary beat the EURO 2004 champion 3-2 in Budapest. This was the first match with Erwin Koeman in the Hungarian bench and Greeks last match before beginning defense of its continental crown.

Greek Ioannis Amanatidis opened the match in the last occasion of the first half. But Balazs Dzsudzsak, Roland Juhasz and Krisztian Vadocz gave to return the indicator for Hungary that was put 3-1. Nikolaos Lymperopoulos goal wasn´t enough.

The Line-ups:
Hungary: Marton Fulop, Zoltan Szelesi, Vilmos Vanczak, Roland Juhasz, Zsolt Low, Pal Dardai, Krisztian Vadocz, Zoltan Gera (Tamas Koltai, 89), Tamas Hajnal (Peter Orosz, 83), Balazs Dzsudzsak, Szabolcs Huszti.

Greece: Antonios Nikopolidis (Konstantinos Chalkias, 22), Georgios Seitaridis, Traianos Dellas (Christos Patsatzoglou, 67), Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Vassilios Torosidis, Paraskevas Antzas, Angelos Basinas (Nikolaos Lymperopoulos, 67), Konstantinos Katsouranis, Ioannis Amanatidis (Georgios Samaras, 46), Angelos Charisteas, Theofanis Gekas (Stylianos Giannakopoulos, 46).

Alexander Frei follows in gust of wind, and Switzerland defeated Slovakia

Switzerland, preparing for the EURO 2008, continues in the good footpath because the national team beat Slovakia (66th in the FIFA Ranking) 2 - 0 in Lugano. The goals arrived in a burst of 8 minutes. Behrami scored in the 11th minute of the second time opening the match while Alexander Frei closed the match in the 18th minute.

Captain Frei is now just one international goal away from the record of 34 set by Kubilay Turkyilmaz. Next Friday the Borussia Dortmund player will be part of the Swiss Squad that will play against Liechtenstein.

The Line-ups:
Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner (Grichting 77), Müller (Djourou 77), Senderos, Magnin; Behrami (Cabanas 84), Inler, Fernandes, Vonlanthen (Gygax 68); Frei (Yakin 80), Streller (Derdiyok 64).

Slovakia: Mucha; Pekarik, Petras, Brezinsky, Cech (Salata 84); Kolbas (Holosko 46), Zabavnik, Hamsík (Dolezaj 90), Obzera (Vascak 75); Vittek; Jakubko (Mintal 71).

Dirk Kuyt returned to the goal and Holland devastated Ukraine

In its preparation for the EURO 2008, Dutch National Team defeated Ukraine 3-0. The goals arrived by the approach of Dirk Kuyt at 23 minutes, by Klaas Jan Huntelaar at 38 minutes and Ryan Babel at 18 in the second half. Kuyt had previously scored in the 2-1 defeat against Switzerland in August 2007. With a convincing performance Holland demonstrated the powerful in Rotterdam thinking about Switzerland - Austria.

The line-ups:
Netherlands: Stekelenburg; Ooijer, Heitinga (62. Boulahrouz), Bouma (73. Mathijsen), Van Bronckhorst (62. De Cler); De Zeeuw (73. De Jong), Engelaar; Kuijt, Van der Vaart (79. Landzaat), Afellay (62. Babel); Huntelaar.

Ukraine: Kernozenko; Ezerski (46. Gay), Mandzioek, Chigrinski, Nesmachni; Yarmash, Timosjoek, Nazarenko (75. Kravsjenko), Golaido (46. Kalinisjenko); Sjevtsjenko (66. Selezniov), Voronin.

Croatia did not convince but Niko Kovac beat Moldova

In Rijeka, the local team defeated Moldova (38th in FIFA Ranking) with only a single goal thinking about EURO 2008. Croatian captain Niko Kovac scored the goal in the 30th minute. Coach Slaven Bilic is searching for the EURO 2008 strikers after Eduardo da Silva injury, and tried Ivic Olic and Igor Budan in the first half, and Ivan Klasnic and Nikola Kalinic after the break.

The line-ups:
Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, R. Kovac (Vejic 46), Simunic (Simic 46), Pranjic, Modric, N. Kovac (Pokrivac 59), Vukojevic (Leko 73), Rakitic, Budan (Kalinic 62), Olic (Klasnic 46).

Moldova: St. Namasco, Lascencov, Rebeja, Epureanu, Golovatenco, Zmeu (Cebotari 69), Se. Namasco, Gatcan (Andronic 79), Comleonoc (Suvorov 74), Frunza (Aleksejev 79), Bugaiov (Ovsevnikov 60).

Russia takes advantage of Pogrebnyak great moment and mangled Kazakhstan

In the EURO 2008 preparation, today Russia increased its confidence and defeated Kazakhstan 6-0 in Moscow thinking about Spain, Greece and Sweden, the National Teams that will take part of the Group D.

Pavel Pogrebnyak scored from the penalty spot in the 27th minute at Lokomotiv stadium. Vladimir Bystrov connected on Pogrebnyak's cross into the box to make it 2-0 in the 44th. Konstantin Zyryanov scored from close range in the 57th and Dmitry Torbinsky made it 4-0 in the 85th. Diniar Bilyaletdinov scored with a penalty in the 85th after he was fouled by the Kazakh goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Dmitry Sychev scored to make it 6-0.

It was the first of three friendlies for the Russians before the start of the Euro 2008 finals. Next week they will play vs. Serbia and vs. Lithuania on June, 4th.

Lineups:
Russia: Igor Akinfeyev, Denis Kolodin (Vasiliy Berezutskiy, 58) , Sergei Semak, Pavel Pogrebnyak (Roman Pavlyuchenko, 46), Roman Shirokov (Sergei Ignashevich, 62), 15 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Yuri Zhirkov, Igor Semshov (Dmitry Torbinskiy, 46), Alexander Anyukov (Dmitry Sychev, 46), Vladimir Bystrov (Ivan Sayenko, 46).

Kazakhstan: David Loriya, Kairat Nurdualetov, Alexander Kuchma, Samat Smakov, Farkhadbek Irismetov, Sergei Skorykh, Andrei Karpovich (Nikota Khokhlov, 57), Kairat Ashirbekov (Sabyrkhan Ibrayev, 81), Aly Aliyev (Yuri Logvinenko, 44; Sabyrkhan Ibrayev, 80), Murat Syumagambetov (Sergei Ostapenko, 46), Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev.

Yes, we have two EURO 2008 official songs: "Like a superstar" and "Can You Hear Me?" !

When all people suppose that "Like a superstar" by Shaggy will be the official song...



Here we have "Can You Hear Me?" by Enrique Iglesias!



Which one do you prefer?

Greece defeated Cyprus and Otto Rehhagel announced the EURO 2008 squad

In Patras, defending champion Greece got their Euro 2008 preparations off to a good start with a 2-0 friendly victory against Cyprus.

Greece dominated the game in front of 22,000 fans.18-year-old talent Sotiris Ninis was the best player and scored the opening goal in the fifth minute. Kostas Katsouranis scored the second in the 60th minute from a penalty shot.

Coach Otto Rehhagel gave six under-21 players a chance to play as several first team regulars were missing from the squad.

After the match, Rehhagel named the provisional EURO 2008 Squad including 24 players. Six of them are from Panathinaikos and four from Olympiakos. Greece will be playing a friendly match against Hungary in Budapest before training in Germany.

Greece Squad

Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos) Costas Chalkias (Aris), Alexandros Tzorvas (OFI)

Defenders: Nikos Spyropoulos (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Giannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Paraskevas Antzas (Olympiakos), Vassilis Torossidis (Olympiakos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiakos), Traianos Dellas (AEK Athens), Socratis Papastathopoulos (AEK Athens), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Midfielders: Angelos Basinas (Mallorca) Georgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Panathinaikos), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers), Costas Katsouranis (Benfica).

Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nurnberg), Fanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Georgos Samaras (Celtic), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Nikos Liberopoulos (AEK Athens), Ioannis Amanatidis (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Hakan Balta scores for the Turkey victory

At Bielefeld, Germany, 2002 World Cup semifinalists Turkey beat Slovakia 1-0 to give themselves a timely boost ahead of the Euro 2008. A goal by defender Hakan Balta in the second-half was enough to see the Turks to victory but their performance satisfied veteran coach Fatih Terim, who said he had not had six first choice players available to him including star forward Nihat Kahveci.

Defensively they had their nervous moments and had to thank goalkeeper Rustu Recber from saving them. However, once Terim included Emre Belozoglu, Sabri Sarioglu and Gokdeniz Karadeniz the Turks improved and deserved a bulky victory.

Next Turkey match will be on Sunday vs. Uruguay at Bochum.

The line-ups:
Turkey: Rustu, Hakan Balta (min. 78 Ugur), Gokhan Zan, Mehmet Topal (min. 46 Emre Belozoglu), Mehmet Aurelio, Semih (min. 65 Halil Altintop), Ibrahim Kas (min. 46 Sabri), Tuncay (min. 73 Arda), Kazim, Mevlut (min. 47 Gokdeniz), Emre Gungor

Slovakia: Senecky, Kravcik, Skrtel, Hubocan, Zabavnik, Petras (min. 90 Novak), Hamsik, Sestak (min. 86 Kolbas), Mintal (min. 68 Jakubka), Cech (min. 68 Zopcak), Vittek (min. 78 Holosko).

Klaas Jan Huntelaar: more goals for Netherlands

It is clear that Ruud van Nistelrooy will not have all the Holland responsibility in this EURO 2008. Although the Real Madrid player is living a great moment, he will be very well accompanied in the penalty area.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar is the main forward of Ajax. He made 37 goals in 39 matches during the season 2007-2008, 33 of them in the Dutch league. But the Huntinator goals are not limited to Ajax. He was part of the U-21 European Champion team in 2006, where he was the Top Scorer.

In addition that year he made the debut in the Team “A” where he scored 6 goals in 11 matches. Three of them were made in the last two matches. This player is not well only in the average of goals per game, he also has quality in the scoring opportunities. Just see these nine goals paying special attention to the second and the sixth ones.

For that reason today Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and Roma are asking for him. His performance in the EURO 2008 can be the explanation for the future of the centre forward. Now the doubt is if Jan Huntelaar will be part of the line-up - next to van Nistelrooy or van Persei or Dirk Kuyt - or if she must wait for the opportunity from the bench.

Antonio Cassano election left out Filippo Inzaghi of Italian Euro 2008 squad

Roberto Donadoni presented 24 players whom will be training with the Italy National Team until May 28th, day that he will have to leave one of them because only 23 must travel to EURO 2008.

The maximum newness was the entrance of the forward Antonio Cassano and the exclusion of Filippo Inzaghi, which was the second Italian Top Scorer in EURO 2008 qualifying and made 10 goals in the last 7 matches in Serie A.

As it accustoms this team historically, very few of their players play abroad. This time they are only five. In addition, 14 players to this list was part of the Squad who was the World Champion in Germany 2006.

Also it was confirmed that FIGC (Italian Federazione Giuoco Calcium) will extend the contract of Roberto Donadoni until 2010.

Before the EURO 2008, Italy will play a friendly game against Belgium on May, 30th.

Italy Squad for Euro 2008

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Cristian Panucci (Roma), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Midfielders: Rino Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro German Camoranesi (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Inter Milan key would like to enjoy the EURO 2008

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not experiencing a good moment. His team, Inter, was questioned after being eliminated of the UEFA Champions League and his injury left out him of the fields by seven weeks. The team missed him too much and underwent the Championship until the point to have to wait the last Date to shout champion because AS Roma discounted five points.

But yesterday the Swedish star entered to the field for the first time from the March, 29th. He transformed his entrance into goals. The victory against Parma meant 16th Scudetto of the Milanese and third in consecutive form.

Now, already with the Scudetto in the pocket, Zlatan thinks about EURO 2008. He will need to be the leader of the Swedish National Team that has an extra motivation: the return of Henrik Larsson. Both have a similar effectiveness in Sweden: Zlatan made 18 goals in 49 matches whereas Henrik scored 36 times in 93 matches.

Unlike previous tournaments Ibrahimovic, already with 26 years, will be the one with highest responsibility that the team plays well and a good synchronization between him and Larsson will be vital if Sweden wants to be in the Semifinals, something that obtained only in EURO 1992 when Sweden was the host. Malmo Anadolu BI´s pride wants it.

Domenech named Bafetimbi Gomis and Trezeguet is left out of EURO 2008

The French coach Raymond Domenech presented a list with 30 players selected for the EURO 2008. Eight of the thirty footballers represent Lyon, consecrated French champion this weekend.

The trainer omitted the French-Argentinean David Trezeguet. “His” place is being taken by Bafetimbi Gomis, the Saint Etienne forward who today is pretended by Sevilla and Newcastle United, and with 14 goals was the third top scorer in Ligue 1, only behind Karim Benzema and Senegal´s Mamadou Niang. "There are four or five central strikers, you can't cram each position. You have to make choices", said Domenech.

In addition, unlike most of the trainers, Domenech mentioned 4 goalkeepers, so one would be discarded.

The French Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyonnais), Mickael Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain), Sebastien Frey (ACF Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Olympique Lyonnais), Francois Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Julien Escude (FC Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), William Gallas (Arsenal FC), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (FC Bayern Munich), Sebastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyonnais), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (FC Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal FC), Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Samir Nasri (Olympique Marseille).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC), Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique Lyonnais), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), Djibril Cisse (Olympique Lyonnais), Bafetimbi Gomis (AS Saint-Etienne), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Franck Ribery (FC Bayern Munich), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC).